Storage-battery lamp and means for operating same



Oct. 9 1923.

H. M. ESSINGTON STORAGE BATTERY LAMPVAND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME Filed Jan. 17. 1922 Patented Oct. 9, 1923.

UNITED STATES HARRY M. ESSINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STORAGE-BATTERY LAMP AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME.

Application filed January 17, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IARRY M. EsSINGTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Storage-Battery Lamps and Means for Operating Same, of'

which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates mainly to vehicle lighting devices and especially tmstorage battery lamps and tomethods and means for using and operating same The main objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of lighting device adapted for use either as a flash light, hand lantern, or as a spot-light for an automobile; to provide such a manually portable lighting unit or lantern adapted for general use as an automobile accessory and having a storage battery capable of ready charging in connection with the usual power equipment of the vehicle; to provide a tiltable mounting for the lantern adapted to facilitate its use in substantially the same manner as an ordinary spot light; to provide contacts on said lantern adapted for battery charging connections, so arranged as to avoid any accidental short circuit when the lantern is removed from its socket and used as av hand lantern; and to provide for ready renewal of parts and maintenance of the equipment.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure l is a side view of the front part of a. motor vehicle with part of the casing broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the lantern mounted in-its spot light position with the near side of the supporting bracket or pocket broken away.

Figure 3 is a planof the lantern mounted in its spot light position von the frame of the vehicle.

Figure 4 is a. view of the back side of the lantern. V

Figure 5 is a conventional circuit diagram of the lantern in its charging position, the

wiring and apparatus at the left of the dotted line being in the lantern and thatat the right being in or attached to the vehicle.

Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and shows one of the resilient charging contacts.

Serial in). 529,885.

In the construction shown in the draw- 7 ings the portable light or lantern 1 is mounted removable in a socket 2 carried by the tiltably mounted arm 3. Said arm 3 is supported pivotally on the horizontal arm 4 which in turn is mounted to swing horizontally on pivot 4: of arm 4". Arm 4" is clamped rigidly to the upright frame member 5 of the motor vehicle 6. The lantern support or pocket member 2 is tiltable vertically and swingable horizontally by means of the handle 7, which is rigid with arm 3, for directing the spot-light when the lamp is in its normal position.v

The lantern 1 comprises mainly a frame or casing. 8, an electric bulb or lamp 9, a reflector 9' therefor, a handle 10, a switch 11, and a pair of vertically disposed contact strips 12 arranged in slots 13 and connected in the circuit as shown in the drawings. Said contacts 12 are connected to the terminals of a small storage battery 14 mounted in the casing 8. The contacts 12 are set back in the apertures or slots 13 in the back of the casing 8 so as to be protected from danger of short circuiting such as might resultjrom a metallic bar or wire being placed accidentally across the casing or as might result fronrstanding the lantern with its back against a meta lic object.

The pocket member or socket 2 has secured to the inner side of its b'ack l5 a pair of spring contacts 16 disposed vertically to register with the slots 13 and contacts 12 of the lantern 1. Each contact 16 is secured in place by and is electrically con nected to a bolt 17 and said members are insulated by a'bu'shing 18 and a back lining plate l9.' In or r toassure ample clearance for insertion and removal of the lantern, the socket chamber 20 is large enough to provide a small space 20' back of the lantern as shown in Fig. 2. This also gives forward and back play room for the forwardly actin springs 16 to operate effectually. The ront of socket 2 is provided with a downwardly extending aperture or notch 8 to accommodate the forwardly projecting lamp and reflector and also permit ready removal of the lantern.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, a switch 21 is mounted on the ,car dashboard to enable the attendant to connect the charging circuit at will. Closure of said switch 21 connects the lantern battery 14 to the geniii erator 22 or to the vehicle battery 23 dependent upon the specific connections in the vehicle on which the lantern is used.

Referring to the contacts in the back of the lantern, as shown in Fig; 6, each contact 12 is fastened in place by a screw 2&- to which the corresponding lantern wire is connected. The slots 13 in the back wall 8" of the lantern are lined with insulation 25. The wiring both for the lantern and for the vehicle may be of any form consistent with good wiring and fixture practice, as will be understood.

When the lamp is not to be used the switch 11 is opened. The contacts at the back of pocket 2 are always closed when the lantern is in place, but the charging depends furthermore upon whether or not the switch 21 is also closed.

back in its socket and the battery recharged by closing the switches 16 and 21. If the generator 22 be not running the battery 14 may still be charged from the vehicle battery 23, in which event the generator would, of course, be disconnected.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp attachment for automobiles comprising a tiltable bracket secured to the automobile, and a manually portable lighting unit in the form of a lantern demountably secured to said bracket, said lantern having a storage battery, and means to supply current thereto when said lantern is mounted on said bracket.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a handle thereon, an electric lamp mounted on said casing. a storage battery in said casing, outwardly facing contacts to receive charging current for said" battery, and connections for said contacts, battery and lamp, said means including a pair of contact strips set in slots in said casing and back from its outer face to receive a pair of spring contacts connected to a. charging source.

Signed at Chicago this 13 day of Jan,

HARRY M. ESSINGTON. 

